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Chat room emergencies

Wed, 08/23/2006 - 23:39
I've been in the chat room on numerous occasions when someone will tell us they're feeling like seizures are coming on, and sure enough, they "disappear" for a while. When I first joined this chat last fall, I was not controlled at all. Several of us had a "phone tree," a simple listing of everyone's screen name and their telephone numbers. We did have to use it a couple of times that I'm aware of. We were truly looking out for each other. There have been other occasions when someone has come to the chat room totally distraught about something. Either they are out of medication, they have recently lost their drivers' license, or for whatever other reason, they are in the chat room telling the people in there that they are contemplating suicide. It would be nice if the chat room had "monitors." If someone came into the room, we members could "call" the monitor to please come into the room. The monitor could check to see what's going on, and if necessary: a) contact the person b) contact the emergency personnel in the member's area c) help talk the member through the crisis Several of us remained in the chat room this evening, hoping that a member would come back not long after threatening to commit suicide. We tried to get a city, then an address, and one of us would have called 9-1-1 in that person's area to make sure that person was unharmed. Granted, this would mean that we would have to give out our telephone numbers, but most of us who were there this evening agreed that we would rather be safe than sorry. In fact, as I type this, other members are still in the chat room, talking about ways for the site to obtain our information (say, the next time the chatroom launches), but that that shouldn't be a problem if the administrators simply state that this is for the safety of all the chatroom members.

Comments

Re: Chat room emergencies

Submitted by Mari_WA on Wed, 2006-08-23 - 23:43
Point of clarification -- If someone came into the chatroom, and if we sensed they needed help beyond that which we could give, we would then contact a monitor of the chatroom for futher help.

Re: Re: Chat room emergencies

Submitted by rob caruso on Thu, 2006-08-24 - 06:02
good response to last night I would be willing to give my phone number if necessary let me know your responses-last night was a tough one regards Bob

Great idea, Mari. I would

Submitted by aquila316 on Thu, 2006-08-24 - 06:34
Great idea, Mari. I would like to give my # (and I have a prepaid cell I use, so it's actually pretty safe, too). However...I have to dissappear quite a bit, and when I do I have to do it FAST, and sometimes don't have time to say goodbye. so I would rather not be contacted if it has to do with me. It's a privacy issue at home, as some of you know, and it's very important to me for my cel not to be ringing when he's trying to pick a fight...just gives him an excuse to interrogate me. E-mail me through the forum, and we can work out details. Hugs to everyone...and...LET'S GO METS!!!!!!!!! Susan

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